As the country begins taking stock of the damage caused by Hurricane Ophelia and works to restore power to much of Scotland and Northern England, gardeners throughout the country are mourning the destruction of their gardens.
It may seem strange to worry about a ruined garden while people live without electricity, but many of us pour our hearts, souls, hard work, and time into crafting our ideal garden space. Gardens provide a refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life where we can relax and forget about the world beyond the garden fence for a little while. So, to see the sanctuary you have created ruined can be disheartening.
As upsetting as watching your hard work vanish overnight may be, it is a good reminder that some things are simply beyond our control. As such, rather than getting upset or angry, use that energy to refill your gardener’s optimism. Look at the damage as an opportunity to improve and strengthen your garden rather than a disaster.
One way to protect your garden is by using wind-resistant plants as part of your garden wind protection strategies. Another effective strategy to protect your garden from severe weather is to explore various garden windbreak ideas. These can range from artificial windbreaks for lower maintenance to more natural barrier options that integrate seamlessly into existing gardens, allowing for customisation and cost considerations.
What is weather damage?
Following periods of extreme weather or single events, such as storms or heat waves, it is common to find damage to the plants in your garden. While assessing the damage it can be easy to mistake some of it for evidence of pests or disease as the symptoms are similar to those found in weather-damaged plants.
Understanding prevailing winds is crucial as they can cause significant damage to garden plants, not only in coastal areas but also inland.
The main symptoms to look for when inspecting your plants are:
- Brown leaves. The browning of leaves can occur on plants following large storms with heavy, prolonged rainfall. This causes the soil around the roots to become waterlogged which causes buried roots to rot.
- Scorched leaves. Finding scorched leaves or smaller scorch marks shows that the plant uses water faster than replenished. You will usually notice this during or after heatwaves.
- Physical damage. This is the easiest type of damage to spot as it can be quite striking – storms and high winds or fully capable of snapping branches and uprooting entire trees. Fluctuations in wind speed, influenced by friction and temperature differences, can also impact the extent of physical damage to plants. Planting good windbreak trees can help mitigate this damage.
- Dieback. The wilting of shoots or the browning of entire plants indicates that nutrients and moisture are not reaching the leaves. This can be caused by some pests, diseases, or fungus but it can be caused just as easily by waterlogged soil following a storm or dry soil following a drought.
Prevention tips and garden windbreak ideas
When a weather warning is issued many of us begin making preparations to limit any potential damage to our family, home, and car, but few remember to make similar preparations to protect their garden.
Making the time to take a few preventative measures in your garden each summer before an extreme weather event can greatly reduce the damage done to plants and garden structures such as sheds. Use the tips below to prepare your garden for the next storm.
- Tidy up. Walk around your garden and collect loose items such as garden tools, children’s toys, furniture, and fallen branches. The wind can blow debris around quite violently and cause damage to walls or break windows, collect and store items or debris out of the wind to remove this unnecessary risk.
- Inspect trees and shrubs. Check the branches and roots of any trees and shrubs in your garden. Any broken branches should be removed and exposed roots should be covered. Doing this helps to protect the plant from additional physical damage caused by branches being torn off. It also reduces the chances of a plant being uprooted. Consider both evergreen and deciduous shrubs for year-round protection.
- Trim top-heavy flowering plants. If you have top-heavy plants such as roses in your garden it is advisable to trim them back before the storm arrives, even if it is not yet pruning season. Top heavy flowering plants are at a greater risk of being uprooted as heavy flower heads provide a great deal of wind resistance.
- Plant deciduous plants and evergreen plants together. Mixing these plants can provide year-round wind protection. They lose their leaves in winter, reducing wind resistance, while evergreen ones retain their foliage, offering consistent coverage.
- Pay closer attention to fir trees. Members of the fir tree family are exceptionally vulnerable in the face of high winds due to their dense foliage and height. Inspect the trees and remove any broken or dead branches. Consider reducing the height of the tree if the weather is good enough before the arrival of the storm. Also, consider the fence line when planning windbreaks to enhance protection.
- Use garden furniture for additional protection. Garden furniture like pergolas and parasols can provide additional wind protection. They can serve both aesthetic and functional roles in enhancing the usability and enjoyment of gardens throughout the year.
- Implement a garden windbreak. Consider creating a garden windbreak to protect plants from harsh weather conditions. Use a combination of artificial and natural windbreak options, and select the right materials and designs to ensure durability against the elements.
- Consider wind-resistant fencing. Wind-resistant fencing is a durable and effective solution for protecting your garden from high winds. It can withstand strong gusts and provide a solid barrier against wind damage.
- Keep off the grass. It is best to wait for the weather to improve before walking or working on a lawn following a storm, especially if there is heavy rain. Lawns, after a storm, are quite easy to damage. As the waterlogged soil cannot support additional weight, deep ruts in the ground can be formed by simply moving a lightly loaded wheelbarrow across the wet grass. In extreme cases, an average adult’s weight can be enough to leave depressions along their route across the lawn. Use natural barriers like hills and sunken gardens for wind protection.
- Consider natural windbreaks. They can seamlessly integrate into existing gardens while providing functional benefits such as shelter. They are aesthetically appealing and effective in enhancing garden environments.
- Use windbreak netting. Windbreak netting is beneficial for protecting delicate plants from high winds. It provides a flexible and effective barrier that can be easily installed and adjusted as needed.
- Plant sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn is a suitable plant for creating living windbreaks. It protects more delicate plants and provides shelter for wildlife, making it ideal for coastal and windy environments.
- Understand windbreak effectiveness. A windbreak can reduce wind on its leeward side for a distance of ten times its height. This measurement is essential for informing optimal windbreak height and positioning.
- Plant young plants. When establishing a windbreak, it is important to plant young flowers and plants. This allows them to effectively establish their root systems, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the windbreak.
Last-minute tips for natural windbreaks
If you were unable to make the above-mentioned preparations due to time constrictions or because the storm is arriving ahead of schedule, don’t mourn the loss of your garden just yet.
Here are five last-minute tips to help protect your garden.
- Place potted plants and hanging baskets in a shed, garage, or conservatory to stop them from ending up in your neighbour’s garden.
- Group the larger plant pots together and lay potted trees on their side in an area protected from the wind.
- Clean your roof gutters. Removing any leaves and twigs ensures that rainwater has an unimpeded path to the drain.
- Tie securely vines or climbing plants to their supports with twine or string.
- Stalk younger trees to secure them. Drive a 2×4 deep into the ground (around half a meter or more) and strap it securely to the tree trunk. The twine or string should have a little slack so that the trunk can move in the wind.
- Use windbreak fabric to provide immediate protection for plants during a storm. Drape the fabric over vulnerable plants and secure it with stakes or heavy objects to shield them from strong winds.
So there we have it, your quick guide on how to prepare your garden to survive a hurricane. As long as you remove any items or debris which can be blown by the wind, trim top-heavy plants, and maintain an optimistic outlook, your garden will not only flourish once the storm has passed – it will also be stronger.
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Did we miss anything? Do you have any tips for preparing a garden for a hurricane? Let us know in the comments below or give us a shout on social media!
Well this is a very important and informative as a gardener I always have a concern on how to save my garden from hurricane.
I have been amazed at your work. Quite fabulous.